Archive - Shakespeare Reconstructed with John McGee

The Other Chorus in Romeo & Juliet

In Act 2, right after the lovers’ first meeting, the Chorus calls Romeo shallow and irrational, equates his two loves and says he would have "died" for…

Jun 18 •

John McGee, PhD

May 2025

"Apple in China" by Patrick McGee

Nothing to do with Shakespeare, but thrilled to share that my younger brother Patrick has just published his first book!

May 15 •

John McGee, PhD

April 2025

The Second Antidote in A Midsummer Night's Dream

Scholars think Demetrius ends the play drugged. They’re dead wrong

Apr 18 •

John McGee, PhD

January 2025

The Meaning of Star-Crossed

Shakespeare wasn’t calling Romeo and Juliet victims of Fate. He was calling them blind, reckless seafarers—and that changes everything

Jan 21 •

John McGee, PhD

September 2024

Ugly People Shouldn't Procreate

The self-evidently satirical message of Shakespeare's “procreation sonnets”

Sep 10, 2024 •

John McGee, PhD

August 2024

Mixed Up Lovers—And Mixed Up Critics

No, Shakespeare never romanticized two suicidal, sex-driven Italian kids

Aug 21, 2024 •

John McGee, PhD

500+ Subscribers!

#BypassingTheGatekeepers

Aug 21, 2024 •

John McGee, PhD

Join me on Notes!

I’ve become more active on Substack Notes, and would love for you to join me there!

Aug 15, 2024 •

John McGee, PhD

A Shakespearean Upskirt

At Juliet's window, Romeo voices one revealing fantasy about her

Aug 8, 2024 •

John McGee, PhD

June 2024

The Trafficking of Juliet

An event—a transaction—scholars never discuss

Jun 27, 2024 •

John McGee, PhD

The Age of the Sovereign Critic

I've been out pitching—and I'm done

Jun 17, 2024 •

John McGee, PhD

March 2024

Self-Hatred: The True Cause of Romeo's Suicide?

First YouTube video!

Mar 2, 2024 •

John McGee, PhD

#nojs-banner { position: fixed; bottom: 0; left: 0; padding: 16px 16px 16px 32px; width: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; background: red; color: white; font-family: -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; } #nojs-banner a { color: inherit; text-decoration: underline; } This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. Please turn on JavaScript or unblock scripts